Newly Appointed Hopewell Township Historian Dies

David Blackwell (second to the right) at the Woolsey Park Rededication in 2017

Hopewell Township Historian David Blackwell, appointed to the post just days ago, was found dead in his home on Saturday, April 21. Funeral Arrangements are pending.

“The Officers and Board of Trustees of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society are extremely saddened to announce the recent passing of David Blackwell, our Secretary, and a past President of the Society,” said Larry Kidder, President of the Hopewell Valley Historical Society. “Besides the close personal relationships he has had with many of us, David has been a tireless advocate of Hopewell Valley’s history and historic preservation for over 30 years.”

Blackwell was roundly considered the finest choice to become Hopewell Township’s first Historian, given his longstanding commitment to the preservation, education, and dissemination of the Township’s history.

“It is such a credit to you that the person everyone in this room envisions in that role is you,” Mayor Kevin Kuchinski, told Blackwell at the time of his appointment, listing examples of his contributions to the Township including the recent rededication of Woolsey Park.

Blackwell himself was enthusiastic about the new position, saying ““History is what makes us unique,”

“This makes me extremely happy,” he continued, “and I look forward to many more years of helping put our history in front of all of us — because it does inform us.”

MercerMe will publish a full remembrance of Blackwell at a later date. Readers are encouraged to submit their fond recollections of his wit, wisdom, and value to the community for publication. Please email mary@mercerme.com to contribute.

Mary Galioto is the founder, publisher and editor of MercerMe. Originally from Brooklyn, Mary has progressively moved deeper and deeper into New Jersey, settling in the heart of the state: Mercer County. Formerly the author of an embarrassingly informal blog, Mary is a lifelong writer and asker of questions and was even mentioned, albeit briefly, in the New York Times and Washington Post. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Binghamton and a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall Law School. In her free time, Mary fills her life with excessive self-reflection, creative endeavors, and photographing mushrooms.
Mary also works as the PR Coordinator at the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, serves on the volunteer Board of Trustees of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT), holds a seat on the Hopewell Borough Board of Health, and is a member of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance.